Consider the praise singer; lovely to behold, always sings in tune (or even in harmony), always at church on time (or even a few minutes before the start of service to review the song list with the worship leader). Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be at pre-service prayer. Maybe I’ll be at pre-service prayer. You just never know with some people.
Praise singers are an unheralded, underappreciated, and, all-too-often, under-miked group of folks. Yes, it’s a thankless job being a praise singer. For some it’s simply doing time before reaching the big leagues of being a worship leader. For others, it’s a terminal station in ministry—no ambition to lead worship, or simply lacking the talent, good looks, or opportunity to do so.
Why aren’t there more men that are praise singers? Are they not as lovely to behold? Are they less likely to sing in tune? Are they less likely to be to church on time? Or is it that there are just fewer of them?
How many praise singers should you have? One for every twenty-five members in the congregation? Once you reach that twenty-sixth regular member, time to add another praise singer? Three at fifty-one; four at seventy-six? Or is there some other matrix for calculating the correct number of praise singers of which I am unaware?
What is the reason for praise singers? Are they the “back-up” singers in case the worship leader forgets the words, doesn’t quite know the tune, or is too lost in worship to sing straight?
And what about the congregation that doesn’t utilize a “worship leader” proper, the one with the person behind the keyboard or guitar slung around shoulder where the band is sitting and nobody singing from behind the pulpit? Should you still have a praise singer (or two) even if you don’t have the traditional worship leader?
And people, can I just make a few pleas? Would you please sing in the microphone? So I can hear you? Pretty please? Do I have to ask again? Can you please, please smile? Or at least don’t look like you are suffering or terrified or miserable. And please, wear something nice. No denim.
Yes. I am trying to provoke you. No. I am not really serious on some of the points outlined above. But I would love to hear your thoughts!
No comments:
Post a Comment